Virtual Radiologic (vRad), a technology-enabled national radiology practice, announced today vRad Radiology Alliance partner, Diagnostic Imaging Inc. (DII), has been joined by Radiology Associates of New Jersey (RANJ), a radiology group covering seven locations in Southern New Jersey.

RANJ consists of 18 radiologists who read approximately 300,000 studies annually for Kennedy Health System and other medical centers. The combined practice will operate under the DII name as part of the national vRad Radiology Alliance network of radiologists. Since becoming a vRad Alliance member in September 2011, DII continues on a path of rapid growth, expanding from 60 to nearly 90 radiologists by joining with Montgomery Radiology Associates and now RANJ. Additionally, DII began comprehensive radiology services on February 1 at Saint Peter's University Hospital, a 478-bed teaching hospital located in New Brunswick, N.J.

"Combining our practice with DII's and joining the vRad Alliance network enables us to collaborate with more than 400 radiologists, increasing our subspecialty capabilities to deliver a higher level of patient care," said Dr. Locke Barber, RANJ's Medical Director. "This partnership also gives us access to vRad's innovative technology infrastructure for unprecedented workflow efficiencies, as well as significantly enhancing our practice agility, communication with physicians and the patient experience."

"We are pleased to have the radiologists of RANJ join together with DII," said Dr. Bruce Lehrman, President of DII. "Our partnership with vRad allows us to bring the two practices together to achieve efficiencies, improve quality and thrive in a dynamic and challenging healthcare environment."

About vRad Virtual Radiologic (vRad) is a technology-enabled national radiology practice working in partnership with local radiologists and hospitals to optimize radiology's pivotal role in patient care. vRad's more than 400 radiologists serve 2,700+ facilities, reading 7 million studies annually. Delivering access to extensive subspecialty coverage, vRad contributes to improved quality of patient care. And with its next-generation technology, vRad enhances productivity, helping to lower the overall cost of care while expediting time to accurate diagnosis and treatment. For more information, visit www.vrad.com. For real-time updates, follow us on Twitter (@vRad), or "like" us on Facebook.